sakura
I don’t have a lot of time these days. So I ignore email, trust my instincts and draw direct in photoshop without sketching (!!) and try not to erase. Results will vary but this is how I want to push myself as an artist. I learn each time I finish something – inking 200 pages is teaching me every day. These warm ups are giving me needed freedom and joy.
shubh raatri dost on sunday!
I hope to see you this Sunday at Books Inc in Palo Alto! I’ll be reading my bilingual board book and signing.
valentine’s sale
Valentine’s is soon! Celebrate the love in your life. Today until Feb 4 11:59pm [PST] my Art Book is on sale for $15 (originally $30). Additionally, enjoy 15% off everything* in our online shop using the code LOVELY at checkout. Thank you for your continued support!
*excludes sale & gift certificates
the jukebox journey
Jukebox idea, 2014
Jukebox pitch, 2016
I spent last fall thumbnailing my next graphic novel, Jukebox. It’s a story about two cousins, Tannaz and Shaheen, who find a jukebox that takes them back in time. The thumbnail manuscript is where a cartoonist lays out the story taking into account page layout, panels, page turns and flow. I wrote the book with my hubbahubba, Nick Giordano. Over the past few weeks we received early feedback and I’m wrapping up revisions. Next week I will start drawing final art for the book. It’s roughly 200 pages.
Each milestone in a long and arduous project deserves a celebration. I’m pretty terrible at taking the time to mark these moments because of my work demands. But… finishing the thumbnail manuscript was a feat. I approached it differently than Pashmina which began with a full script. I abandoned the full script for Jukebox and went straight to thumbnails, stopping to write when needed. This approach integrated the visuals and text concurrently and took five months, compared to Pashmina, which was over a year. In those five months I lived inside the story. I talked about the characters like friends I was trying to understand. It’s my absolute favorite part of the process.
Working on the final art is fun and labor intensive. I’m looking forward to using color to communicate pieces of the story visually, approaching the line work in a way that allows for focal points and nuance and drawing my favorite city, San Francisco.
I will continue to share sales, occasional art and events (I will be in LA, St Louis, New York, and PA this year) but mostly I will be quietly working on Jukebox. I will share snippets when I can and it will hit the shelves in 2021. Jukebox is very dear to my heart. Writing a book with the love of my life has been wonderful and challenging. I’m a pretty intense person to work with! The truth is that Nick contributes to all my projects but this book is our joint love letter to music, family and connection. The wait will be long but worthwhile.
For now I’m sharing these early images. Nick and I started talking about our idea in 2014 and I roughly sketched it. The next drawing was used to pitch the book immediately after finishing Pashmina in 2016. Neither will appear in the finished book but I love them both. Making a book is a looong journey and I’m in the middle. Finishing the manuscript is an important milestone. Based on my other committments and schedule, I should finish drawing it by years end but it will leave little room for anything else. So, I will stop to celebrate this milestone… and then get back to work!
I hope you have a lovely weekend!
shubh raatri dost soon!
Happy new year!
It’s less than a month away from the release of my bilingual board book, Shubh Raatri Dost / Good Night Friend! Raising a child bilingual/bicultural is wonderfully challenging. I created this board book with families like ours in mind. With the romanized Hindi on each page, both my husband and I can read this book to our child. You don’t need to know Hindi to utilize it.
We received advance copies of this book and it’s absolutely wonderful to see the effect in action. My daughter remembers the names of animals in Hindi better and says shubh raatri regularly.
I will be reading and signing the book at the Books Inc in Palo Alto on February 3rd.
Meanwhile I’m working away on my next graphic novel, Jukebox, and some unannounced projects. It’s going to be a busy and fun year!
I hope to see some of you at my upcoming events!
Happy new year (and sale)
Happy New Year! Our card sale is live now! ALL cards are $2 (until supplies last). No coupon code necessary. Give a loving note to the special people in your life! Ends Jan 9th.
Thank you to those who’ve already placed orders – they’re all going fast!
I hope you all had a restful and warm holidays.
thank you
It’s been a strange and complicated year. As I read, daily, about the devastating turns of our government, I question myself constantly. What can I do to help combat fear and hate? Whether it was through art for good or donations, this year my guiding light was giving. Within the limits of my career, family and life I found new ways to give and contribute.
Whenever a person buys my books, prints, writes reviews or shares my work I thank them for their support. I cannot emphasize enough how much it matters. Your support enables me to give back. We are in this together!
I know there’s still so much work to be done, but as the year closes I am grateful that we did our best to combat hate with love.
And I came here to remind you of shipping deadlines! Please place your orders by Dec 20th to ensure delivery by Christmas.
I hope you have a happy, happy holidays.
Warmly,
Nidhi
anyone else?
Another quick comic without edits done in an hour!
I’ve added some new originals and a bunch of deep discount prints to my shop – $5 and $10 prints! They’re selling fast, so grab em while you can ^_^ There will be more added by the end of today.
I hope you’re having a wonderful week.